The Warrior from Azeroth: Invasion

After their encounter with the orcs at the bog, Twilight delivered an urgent message to Celestia while she and Spike took Pendragon to the hospital to have his wound treated.

"Hmm...you are extremely lucky, one more inch and you would've been half blind." The doctor said while applying some medicine to the cut.

"Actually doc. One more inch and my skull would've been split in two-OW!" Pendragon flinched for a moment as the sting from the medicine began to set in while Twilight was thinking of the orc who almost killed her friend.

"Now I advise taking a few days off until that wound heals." The doctor advised while giving him some cream to stop any future bleeding.

"I'm curious, what happened with that orc? Why did he go berserk all of the sudden?" She asked after they left the his office.

"That's what happens when you drink a demons blood."

"Say what?!?" Spike became startled by this revelation as did Twilight before their friend explained how the orcs were tricked by one of their own into servitude for the demonic army know as The Burning Legion. A name Twilight had not heard for a while after the war ended.

"So the orcs are still slaves to the demons?"

"Not anymore. One of their leaders slayed the demon that they were bound to but most still hold onto that evil power."

"Like the ones we encountered at the bog?" Asked Spike.

"Bingo."

"So what should we do now?"

"For now, we do nothing; We let our enemies make the first move and pray we are ready when it comes." The knights words seemed foreboding and with good reason for Pendragon the orcs would attack now that they had been revealed and they would come in force but that was not what worried him.

"Something wrong Pen?" Twilight asked after noticing the troubled look on his face.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would their leader do this? This isn't like him."

"You mean you've met?" Twilight asked sounding a bit surprised before Pendragon told her of Thrall; the leader of The Horde who was a great warrior and a powerful shaman but unlike most orcs he was a wise and caring leader who looked after his people and had struggled for years trying to make peace with The Alliance and often tried to stop any further conflict from erupting between the two factions. For him to suddenly declare war on another world just didn't seem to fit his character.

"Maybe it's best not to think about it too much." Twilight advised before noticing a poster on the hospital billboard.

"Hey! The town faire is tomorrow. Why don't we go there? I mean I have to attend of course I am a princess."

"Hmm sounds fun. Haven't been to a faire in a long time."

To hear Pendragon agreeing made Twilight feel relieved since she figured they could use a little rest and relaxation after their ordeal yesterday.

Later at Sweet Apple Acres

Applejack had just finished her daily chores when she noticed a familiar face of Pendragon coming down the road and decided to meet him halfway but when she got closer she noticed the horrendous scar now decorating his left eye.

"Sugarcube your eye!" She gasped while gently placing a hoof on his left cheek looking worried.

"What happened?"

"Tree branch." He lied not wanting her to worry any more than she already was while telling her that the doctor told him to take a few days off while it healed making her feel a bit relieved, then he remembered the faire and figured this would be the perfect chance to ask her out. Problem was that he had butterflies in his stomach and could feel himself sweating.

"Hey um Applejack?"

"Yes?"

"Th-the Ponyville Faire is tomorrow and I was wondering if..." He began to hesitate when Applejack gave him a smug grin asking.

"Pen, are you asking me out on a date?" While her face was smirking, Applejack felt excited in the back of her mind but decided to play it cool after seeing how nervous the stallion was.

"Y-yes." Pendragon gave a huge gulp as he awaited her answer.

"Mmm...sure. A faire sounds fun plus our friends will be there."

"Great! So when should I pick you up?" He asked making her giggle.

"How about we meet at the faire grounds instead?"

"Deal!"

The two ponies shook hooves and parted ways until they were out of earshot of each other. Pendragon leaped into the air shouting YES! while doing a little victory dance before galloping back into town while Applejack quietly squealed to herself before running back to the farm when Rainbow Dash came onto the scene.

"Sup cowgirl? You look extra happy today." Rainbow stated after noticing the happy expression on her friends face.

"Oh nothin~." Applejack said with a smirk catching Rainbows attention.

"Alright spill it. I know your hiding something!" Rainbow demanded sharing her friends grin.

"Alright well...Pendragon just asked me out to the Faire tomorrow!" The farm mare giggled to herself while Rainbow just stood there wide eyed and shocked before asking a few questions.

"You serious?!?"

"Eeyup." AJ responded sounding a bit like her brother.

"Did you say yes?"

"Eeyup!" She replied again with a bit more enthusiasm before getting a pat on the back from Rainbow.

"I'm still a bit nervous though."

"Whaddya mean?"

"Well Pendragons a great guy but...." Applejack paused for a moment, afraid to tell her friend what was bothering her.

"But what?"

"Well...he's a big war hero and a knight in Twilights court, I just don't think I'm the right gal for him."

"Whoa back up a minute cowgirl!" Rainbow stopped her friend from bringing herself down any further before looking her in the eye.

"Let's not forget that we are also war heroes AND we saved Equestria hundreds of times before he showed up so I should say that Pendragon isn't right for you but I wont. You two are made for each other and uh between you and me..." The pegasus darted her head around before whispering into her friends ear.

"I've seen him staring at your flank a couple of times." Rainbow giggled to herself as Applejacks face turned a dark red.

"And you never said anything?!?" Applejack was completely furious and embarassed at the same time while Rainbow continued to laugh to her hearts content.

"Oh chill AJ this is a good thing." She said after taking a few breaths.

"How in tarnation is a stallion checkin' out my backside a good thing?!?"

"Cause it means that he likes you. Think about it Applejack, it was you that took care of him after he became a pony and gave him a place to work plus everytime you're near him he gets nervous!"

The more Applejack thought about it the more she realized Rainbow was right, every time when she and Pendragon were working the fields he'd end up tripping over a rock or garden tools and end up falling flat on his face like he was distracted by something and there was that incident at the barn where he stood frozen like a statue after she hugged him for giving her a bag of gems.

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right and if it helps, me and the rest of our friends will make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Thanks Dash." Applejack hugged her friend out of gratitude and looked forward to attending the faire the next day.

Ponyville Faire

Like all other villages, Ponyville held a small faire once a year as a way of giving the townsfolk a day off from their daily routines and celebrate living in their home town. All kinds of shops were set up on every street from food and drink to games and crafts and all around there was the sound of music and the laughter of foals running through the streets while at the center of the faire stood Pendragon feeling anxious about his date with Applejack who had yet to show up.

"I have faced demons, battled the undead, surely I can handle one date." The stallion said to himself, tapping his hoof impatiently while he looked around for his date then he spotted her coming through the crowd.

"Sorry I'm late sugarcube, I had to help finish the chores back home."

"It's fine Applejack. Ready?"

"You bet!" Applejack lead the way to their first destination while a certain pink pony who was hiding on a nearby rooftop watched the couple through a pair of binoculars before grabbing her walky talky saying.

"Operation Lovey Dovey is a go!"

The ponies started their day off with some games that were surprisingly easy to win at before heading to a few snack stands to watch a puppet show for the foals while in the shadows were the other five ponies and Spike keeping close watch to make sure their friends date went off without a hitch. Things were going well until the hour grew late. Applejack had gone off to use the nearest restroom when she ran into two suspicious stallions that had been lurking around the faire grounds.

"Hey there gorgeous." An earth pony stallion chewing on a toothpick was the first to approach the mare while his friend who was a tad bigger moved in from behind.

"Uh...evening y'all..." Applejack said politely while being cautious.

"See? I told you she's a country mare!" The second stallion said to his friend while chuckling and eyeballing Applejacks figure.

"You're cute. Why don't ya ditch that gray loser and come hang out with us?" The first one asked while wrapping a hoof around her.

"Uh thanks but I'll pass." Applejack politely declined when she bumped into the second one who was looking rather annoyed.

"My friend is trying to be nice!"

"Simmer down partner. I'm flattered that he asked me out but I'm already on a date. Now if you'll excuse me?" Applejack turned away from both stallions and walked away when the larger of the two suddenly pounced on top of her.

"HEY!!"

"We tried being nice so now we're gonna do this the hard way!"

Applejack struggled to get her assailant of her when she felt something being tied around the base of her tail.

"Hey! What're you doing back there?!?" She asked still struggling when a firm smack to her rump caused her to yelp.

"Mmm~. That's a sweet piece!" The first stallion said while licking his hoof and rubbing it between the mares legs. When Applejack realized what they were planning to do she tried calling for help until the stallion on top of her held a small knife to her neck.

"Scream or struggle and you're as good as dead. Now brace yourself cause this is gonna hurt!" The rapist said in a sadistic manner while mounting her. Applejack could only cry silently as she prepared for the worst when the sound of galloping hooves and a furious battle cry caught her attention.

"GYAAAAGH!!!"

"What the?!?" The stallion holding down Applejack turned around to see a grey hoof coming at him full speed and sending him crashing into a nearby tree before the first was tackled away from the mare. Pendragon had come!

The knight took a few breaths before turning his attention back to Applejack and when he saw what they had tried to do to her, his rage erupted and he began giving the first stallion a merciless beating.

"How dare you!! HOW DARE YOU!!!" Pendragon yelled furiously as he began thrashing Applejacks attacker into the ground creating a small puddle of blood and making his face swell with bruises. While he was busy dispensing punishment, Twilight and the others rushed onto the scene along with a few guards who separated the two stallions before the attacker was killed.

"My lord stop!!" A guard urged him to calm down while they arrested the two assailants. Twilight who was also furious at this situation ordered the guards to take them away but not before Pendragon gave a very clear threat to both of them.

"If you ever touch my mare again, I'll finish what I started..."

At first the culprits thought his threats to be empty words until they looked into his eyes and saw an intent to kill before being hauled off by the guards while he went to comfort his friend.

"Hey, you okay?"

"I'm fine..." The mare said with a few tears in her eyes before being wrapped in a group hug by her friends. This made Applejack feel safe once more but what relieved her the most was that the stallion in front of her came to her rescue.

"Thanks for bringing the guards Twilight." Pendragon thanked the princess for stepping in when she did.

"You better escort Applejack home darling, it's been a long night." Rarity advised knowing that the rest of the night had been ruined by the two ruffians who dared to attack her friend. Pendragon agreed and took Applejack home for the rest of the night.

Later

It was near midnight when the two ponies had returned to Sweet Apple Acres but instead of heading towards the house, Applejack brought Pendragon to the barn to sleep for the night since she didn't like the idea of him heading back to Twilights castle at such a late hour.

"I'll be over here if you need me." He told her while moving to a seperate stall when she suddenly grabbed his hoof looking afraid.

"Will you...sleep with me tonight?" She asked with pleading eyes and after the ordeal she went through, Pendragon said yes and laid next to her. The stallion did not feel anxious in any way but felt relief instead, knowing she was kept safe from harm but neither he nor Applejack could bring themselves to sleep.

"Pen, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"When you said I was your mare...did you mean it?"

Pendragons cheeks flushed pink when he remembered saying those words to her attacker but when he looked into Applejacks eyes all that embarassment faded away instantly.

"Every word...Applejack I...I love you." His confession made her heart skip a few beats as he poured his feelings out to her.

"I've loved you for some time but I was afraid you would reject me, especially given my past." Pendragon then waited for her to say something when the mare slowly pulled him towards her. Both their hearts were racing as they drew closer to each other and before he knew it, Pendragon was finally kissing the mare of his dreams.

"I love you too sugarcube." She whispered lovingly before resuming the kiss and as if by Luna's blessing, the moon shined brightly on the two lovers as they fell asleep in each others arms.

Meanwhile

The orcs who had been sent to Equestria returned to Azeroth to deliver their report to their leader; Warchief Garrosh Hellscream who sat on his throne while looking at a map of the world to prepare his next attack on The Alliance.

"Warchief. We bring news from the new land."

"Speak." He growled impatiently.

"We encountered a few enemy soldiers trying to spy on our operations. One of them had this." The orc presented Pendragons damaged helmet to his chieftan who instantly recognized its design.

"And where is the soldier who possessed this?" Garrosh inquired while looking at the helmet.

"He and his comrades fled from us like the cowards they are."

"And you simply allowed them to escape?!? FOOLS!!" The warchief then furiously punched his soldier straight in the face knocking out whatever teeth he had left while the others backed away in fear.

"Now the enemy knows we are here! We have no choice but to accelerate our plans for this land called...Equestria. Summon the War Song Raiders and paint the fields red with blood!!"

End.